‘Everyone just gets that we’re mixed’: racial identification among Puerto Ricans in New York City and Orlando

Previous research shows that racial identification patterns among stateside Puerto Ricans deviate from the Black-White binary that has historically characterized the U.S. colour line. Thus, scholars and policymakers continue to debate the most accurate approach for racially classifying the stateside Puerto Rican – and broader Latinx – population. I address this debate by examining the process of racial identification among Puerto Ricans living in New York City and Orlando, Florida. Data from 58 in-depth interviews and the U.S. Census show that Puerto Ricans merge racial and ethnic conceptualizations when constructing racial identities. This is why most Puerto Ricans report their race as Hispanic/Latina/o. Place-based differences in racial identification also emerge, particularly when respondents are presented with separate race and Hispanic origin questions. I argue that the timing of Puerto Rican migration and the racial histories and demography of each place lead Puerto Ricans to develop different understandings of race.